The low pressure area (LPA) being monitored by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) southeast of Palau has intensified into a tropical depression on Sunday morning, Dec. 12.
The weather disturbance developed into a tropical depression over the Pacific Ocean at 8 a.m. Its center was located 2,095 kilometers (km) east of Mindanao at around 10 a.m.
It has maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness up to 55 kph while almost stationary over the Pacific Ocean.
"On the forecast track, the tropical depression is forecast to move generally west-northwestward over the next three days and may enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Tuesday (Dec. 14). Once inside the PAR, the domestic name 'Odette' will be assigned to this tropical cyclone," PAGASA said in its 11 a.m. tropical cyclone advisory.
Odette will be the 15th cyclone to enter the PAR this year.
Based on the initial forecast, PAGASA said the tropical depression will likely begin to move westward and make landfall over Eastern Visayas-Caraga regions between Wednesday, Dec. 15, and Thursday, Dec. 16.
"The tropical depression is forecast to gradually intensify and may reach tropical storm category within the next 24 hours. Due to favorable environmental conditions, the tropical cyclone will likely continue to intensify and may reach typhoon category by Tuesday evening or Wednesday early morning," PAGASA said.
" current track and intensity forecast show that there is a moderate to high likelihood that tropical cyclone wind signal (TCWS) will be hoisted for the provinces of Visayas and Mindanao. The highest possible wind signal that may be hoisted for this tropical cyclone is TCWS No. 4," it added.
PAGASA advised the public and disaster risk reduction and management offices concerned to continue monitoring for updates related to the tropical cyclone.